Analysis of Han Dynasty Red Pottery Eave-End Tile from the Minyue Kingdom Ruins

This study investigates a red pottery eave-end tile (Wadang) from the Minyue Kingdom Imperial City (Western Han Dynasty), a World Heritage Site in Fujian. By integrating quantitative petrography, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy, we systematically characterized its microstructure and production technology. Scientific analyses identify the raw material as local feldspathic–quartz clay, evidenced by angular, ill-sorted quartz inclusions with significant distributional heterogeneity. XRD analysis identified a rigid quartz skeleton, while Raman spectroscopy further revealed a hematite-rich surface formed under an oxidizing atmosphere. While typological analysis confirms a mid-Western Han Cloud Pattern style influenced by the Central Plains, the observed microstructural heterogeneity indicates a production mode characterized by high individual craftsmanship but low overall standardization. These findings highlight the Minyue artisans’ adaptive fusion of imperial aesthetics with indigenous manufacturing techniques, providing material evidence for the center–periphery cultural exchange in the Han Empire.